Former Colorado town administrator charged with embezzling $26,000 from federal water project
The former administrator and clerk of a tiny southern Colorado town is charged with multiple felonies after investigators say she stole more than in federal grants and loans meant for a reservoir project Tyra Marie Avila is charged with theft cybercrime embezzlement of inhabitants property and forgery all felonies along with misdemeanor check fraud the Colorado Bureau of Study noted Tuesday Avila was the Aguilar town administrator clerk and treasurer for years before she resigned in September according to the agency Aguilar a Las Animas County town of less than people is located just off of Interstate miles south of Pueblo Investigators say money earmarked for an augmentation reservoir was combined with the town s general fund and used for unauthorized personal transactions and other town expenses ultimately leaving contractors for the critical water project unpaid state authorities commented Tuesday According to the Walsenburg-based World Journal the million water project backed by the U S Department of Agriculture sent the town into a financial dilemma Related Articles Former Colorado sheriff s deputy arrested in Mexico on suspicion of child sex exploitation Denver DA failed to disclose police records in as multiple as criminal cases Charges in Pueblo funeral home disgrace could take months administrators say CBI to review examination into death of Hunter S Thompson Missing Boulder teen from Amber Alert uncovered safe The project was meant to protect the more senior water rights of users downstream while still making sure town residents had enough water the newspaper released But the reservoir was plagued with design and safety issues after construction started in December State administrators on Tuesday announced town leaders have since taken moves to implement stricter financial controls including establishing a separate account for the water project accessible only by the current mayor and a USDA official to ensure the project can move forward Avila was published on bail Her next court date has not been set Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day
